TripAdvisor: Wildwood Crest is Best Summer Hot Spot in Nation

By TAPINTO LOCALE

May 20, 2017 at 2:21 AM

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Wildwood Crest, known for its expansive beaches, has been been named the nation's top 2017 Summer Hot Spot by Trip Advisor.
Wildwood Crest, known for its expansive beaches, has been been named the nation's top 2017 Summer ...Credits: Cathy Goetz

Wildwood Crest beaches are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.on weekends until mid-June, and daily from June through Labor Day.Wildwood Crest beaches are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 5:30 ...Credits: Cathy Goetz

Wildwood Crest's sunrises rank among the best along the Jersey Shore.Wildwood Crest's sunrises rank among the best along the Jersey Shore. Credits: Cathy Goetz

Wildwood Crest is the southern-most of The Wildwoods -- Wildwood and North Wildwood.Wildwood Crest is the southern-most of The Wildwoods -- Wildwood and North Wildwood. Credits: Cathy Goetz

By TAPINTO LOCALE

May 20, 2017 at 2:21 AM

WILDWOOD CREST, NJ — Wildwood Crest has been named the nation's top 2017 Summer Hot Spot by TripAdvisor.

The Cape May County beachfront community was selected based on the greatest increase in seasonal hotel booking interest, including the average one-week vacation costs for hotels and airfare.

According to a recent TripAdvisor survey of more than 1,300 U.S. travelers, 88 percent of respondents are planning to vacation this summer — up 7 percent from those who took a summer trip last year — many choosing Wildwood Crest as their destination.

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, revealed its 2017 Summer Vacation Value Report, highlighting the top 50 domestic destinations for U.S. travelers this summer, which included two other Jersey Shore towns — Ocean City at #2 and Cape May at #10

The report also helps travelers discover savings at popular U.S. travel destinations by showing the least expensive summer week to visit with highly rated value hotels.

Of the report’s respondents, 91 percent will travel domestically, and 71 percent will stay in a hotel. In addition, nearly one-half will plan a leisure trip to the beach/ocean and 44 percent will plan a leisure trip to a city destination.

“TripAdvisor hotel pricing and airfare data show that U.S. travelers planning vacations to these popular destinations can save 40 percent on average when visiting during the least expensive summer week,” said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor, based on Needham, Mass.

“Everyone wants to make the most of their travel budget and the Wildwoods offer affordable hotel motel rooms with a one of-a-kind level of service for the ultimate family vacation,” said John Siciliano, executive director of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority.

The Wildwoods — Wildwood Crest, Wildwood and North Wildwood — are known for their expansive free beaches, its two-mile iconic boardwalk with three amusement piers with more than 100 rides and attractions, three beachfront waterparks, shops, arcades, games and over 300 eateries. In addition, the Wildwoods are home to the largest collection of "Doo Wop" architecture in the country and more than 8,000 hotel-motel rooms and 3,000 vacation rentals.